2026 Research Excellence Award Recipient
This award is presented to an APEGA member or permit holder that has conducted research in engineering or geoscience that has improved the lives of Albertans.
Uttandaraman Sundararaj, PhD, P.Eng.
Building a Circular Future through Polymer Innovation
Dr. Uttandaraman Sundararaj was a professional engineer, Schulich industry research chair, and professor of chemical and petroleum engineering at the University of Calgary. His research has made everyday products safer, more sustainable, and more economically viable.
Dr. Sundararaj’s work focused on polymers, something found in everyday items, such as household appliances and car components. By studying how polymers behave during manufacturing, he helped industry design advanced materials for electronics housings and building products, improving their strength, flame resistance, and recyclability.
One of Dr. Sundararaj’s most important discoveries reshaped scientists’ understanding of how different plastics mix. He showed that stability in polymer blends comes not from reducing forces between materials, as long believed, but from a protective “shielding” effect that keeps materials evenly distributed, preventing separation or degradation that can lead to product failure. This insight, cited by researchers more than 1,100 times, has guided safer, more reliable product design worldwide.
Working with Alberta-based manufacturers, Dr. Sundararaj helped develop advanced flooring products that combine fire resistance with shielding from electromagnetic interference, improving building safety while using locally sourced materials. In partnership with Calgary-area technology developers, he advanced chemical recycling processes that convert electronic waste into reusable materials. This includes using feedstock to make new polymers and turning discarded tire rubber into materials used to protect electronic devices from interference, supporting a circular plastics economy and reducing landfill waste.
Beyond the products and processes his research enabled, Dr. Sundararaj trained more than 150 highly qualified personnel, many of whom now lead companies and drive innovation, creating jobs in Alberta and beyond.
“Discovering new scientific mechanisms and creating new industrial products is so exciting. I enjoy every minute of it,” said Dr. Sundararaj. “My greatest joy in research is guiding my talented group of young research students.”
Through research that combined discovery, application, and education, Dr. Sundararaj’s work delivered lasting benefits to the province and the engineering profession.
Dr. Uttandaraman Sundararaj passed away on March 24, 2026, so this award is presented posthumously to honour his impactful work.
Notable Achievements and Recognition
- Winner, Macromolecular Science and Engineering Award, Chemical Institute of Canada (2024)
- Fellow, Canadian Academy of Engineering (2023)
- Fellow, Engineers Canada (2023)
- Winner, 3M National Teaching Fellowship, Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2010)
- Recipient, Medal for Distinction in Engineering Education, Engineers Canada (2008)
- Summit Award Recipient, Excellence in Education, APEGA (2007)
- Winner, Morand Lambla Award, Polymer Processing Society (2003)
- Member, APEGA (1996–2026)